Gathering
Christ is our example, our guide and our friend.
It is Christ who invites us to the table, friends among millions who have gathered, are gathering and will gather in his holy name.
There is nothing we can do or say to be included in this feast of love and grace except to open our hearts to receive and say “yes” to him.
Christ is the host, and we are his guests; welcomed by him to a simple feast of eternal importance.
Whether we are gathered in one place, or scattered in our homes, we are all his people, saved by his grace, embraced by his love, and commissioned into his work.
As we prepare ourselves to eat and drink, we remember the upper room and Jesus as both host and guest:
On the evening of Jesus’ betrayal, on the night before his crucifixion, Jesus is found with his closest friends reclining at table, replaying the ritual of the Passover meal.
As the meal progresses, Jesus takes up the loaf of bread, gives thanks, breaks and gives it to his disciples to eat.
He has done this many times before, among the few and among the thousands.
But this time is different:
“My body will be broken like this bread,” he says. “And all for you.”
Later, the cup is passed around, with Jesus’ words following its progress around the table as they drink:
“As red as blood, this wine is for all.”
Into the night they went, as Jesus fulfilled his destiny for all humanity on the cross.
Sharing
Before we eat and drink, we pray:
Gracious God,
At this advent season, we are mindful that the baby whose birth we remember grew up to show us the way to live and the way to life.
May we who eat and drink in remembrance continue to be grateful for all that you have done through him and in us.
As we join in as guests of our Saviour, gathered in your Spirit to share in your gift of grace, may we be mindful of who we are before you:
sinners redeemed and being redeemed through all that Jesus accomplished on the cross and your Spirit is accomplishing in us.
And keep us grateful.
Amen.
So we eat and drink, in remembrance of the one who died for all.
Pause to eat. Pause to drink.
Sending
We pray:
Loving God,
We thank you for the gift of Jesus, the host of our gathering today.
We thank you for the gift of life beyond death, for glorious resurrection, and the promise of eternity with you.
But for today, as we are scattered into your world, may we know Jesus as our guest:
seeing him in the face of friend and stranger,
and meeting him on the way.
Amen.
